Black and white

Photography, Ki no kioku (Memory of tree), Kumano Kodo Akagi-Goe-2023-09_04, Teddy Peix

Ki no kioku (Memory of tree), Kumano Kodo Akagi-Goe-2023-09_04

Teddy Peix

Photography - 22 x 22 x 0.1 cm

$322

Photography, Ki no kioku (Memory of tree), Kumano Kodo Akagi-Goe-2023-09_04, Teddy Peix

Ki no kioku (Memory of tree), Kumano Kodo Akagi-Goe-2023-09_04

Teddy Peix

Photography - 22 x 22 x 0.1 cm

$322

Photography, Ki no kioku (Memory of tree),  Tayun-ji_Mie_2023-04_02, Teddy Peix

Ki no kioku (Memory of tree), Tayun-ji_Mie_2023-04_02

Teddy Peix

Photography - 22 x 22 x 0.1 cm

$322

Photography, Ki no kioku (Memory of tree), Takiharanomiya_jinja_Taki-Mie_2023-08_10, Teddy Peix

Ki no kioku (Memory of tree), Takiharanomiya_jinja_Taki-Mie_2023-08_10

Teddy Peix

Photography - 22 x 22 x 0.1 cm

$322

Photography, Cast your spell on me, Justin Chan

Cast your spell on me

Justin Chan

Photography - 80 x 56.5 x 0.5 cm

$10,728

Photography, Du bout du monde, Auvergne 02, Lac de la Godivelle, Teddy Peix

Du bout du monde, Auvergne 02, Lac de la Godivelle

Teddy Peix

Photography - 22 x 22 x 0.04 cm

$305

Photography, Amour Méduse, Ajda Kara

Amour Méduse

Ajda Kara

Photography - 50 x 50 x 0.5 cm

$553

Photography, Voir les yeux fermés - sans titre #12, Fabrice Domenet

Voir les yeux fermés - sans titre #12

Fabrice Domenet

Photography - 90 x 90 cm

$2,823

Photography, Pow wow. Indiens. Amerique du nord., Dominique Leroy

Pow wow. Indiens. Amerique du nord.

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 90 x 70 x 2 cm

$1,468

Photography, Sadhus sur les ghats de Varanassi. Inde 1, Dominique Leroy

Sadhus sur les ghats de Varanassi. Inde 1

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 70 x 90 x 2 cm

$1,468

Photography, Sadhus sur les ghats de Varanassi. Inde, Dominique Leroy

Sadhus sur les ghats de Varanassi. Inde

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 70 x 90 x 2 cm

$1,468

Photography, Sadhus sur les ghats de Bénarès. Inde, Dominique Leroy

Sadhus sur les ghats de Bénarès. Inde

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 70 x 90 x 2 cm

$1,129

Photography, Touareg. Ouarzazate. Maroc, Dominique Leroy

Touareg. Ouarzazate. Maroc

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 70 x 90 x 2 cm

$1,468

Photography, Papouasie Nouvelle Guinée, Dominique Leroy

Papouasie Nouvelle Guinée

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 90 x 70 x 2 cm

$1,468

Photography, Enfants pendant le rite initiatique. Tanzanie, Dominique Leroy

Enfants pendant le rite initiatique. Tanzanie

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 70 x 90 x 2 cm

$1,468

Photography, Joueurs de cartes pendant le Holi Festival. Rajasthan. Inde, Dominique Leroy

Joueurs de cartes pendant le Holi Festival. Rajasthan. Inde

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 70 x 90 x 2 cm

$1,466

Photography, Femme Kényane. Kenya. Afrique, Dominique Leroy

Femme Kényane. Kenya. Afrique

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 70 x 90 x 2 cm

$1,468

Photography, Femme au miroir. Femme Mursi. Ethiopie, Dominique Leroy

Femme au miroir. Femme Mursi. Ethiopie

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 70 x 90 x 2 cm

$1,468

Photography, Enfants Kaeo. Vallée de L'Omo. Ethiopie, Dominique Leroy

Enfants Kaeo. Vallée de L'Omo. Ethiopie

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 70 x 90 x 2 cm

$1,468

Photography, Enfants Karo. Ethiopie. Vallée de L'Omo, Dominique Leroy

Enfants Karo. Ethiopie. Vallée de L'Omo

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 70 x 90 x 2 cm

$1,468

Photography, Femme Hamer. Marché. Ethiopie, Dominique Leroy

Femme Hamer. Marché. Ethiopie

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 70 x 90 x 2 cm

$1,468

Photography, Femmes Hamer au marché. Ethiopie, Dominique Leroy

Femmes Hamer au marché. Ethiopie

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 70 x 90 x 2 cm

$1,468

Photography, Femmes Hamer. Ethiopie, Dominique Leroy

Femmes Hamer. Ethiopie

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 70 x 90 x 2 cm

$1,466

Photography, Lire dans les mains. Inde du nord, Dominique Leroy

Lire dans les mains. Inde du nord

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 90 x 70 x 2 cm

$1,468

Photography, Femme voilée dans le Bengale occidental. Inde, Dominique Leroy

Femme voilée dans le Bengale occidental. Inde

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 70 x 90 x 2 cm

$1,468

Photography, Jeune Fille Indienne du Nord de l'Inde, Dominique Leroy

Jeune Fille Indienne du Nord de l'Inde

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 70 x 89.99 x 2 cm

$1,468

Photography, Indiens Sioux. Pow Wow, Dominique Leroy

Indiens Sioux. Pow Wow

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 70 x 90 x 2 cm

$1,468

Photography, Pow wow. Indiens. Amérique du nord 1, Dominique Leroy

Pow wow. Indiens. Amérique du nord 1

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 70 x 90 x 2 cm

$1,468

Photography, Pow wow. Indiens. Amérique du nord, Dominique Leroy

Pow wow. Indiens. Amérique du nord

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 70 x 90 x 2 cm

$1,355

Photography, Schumi. Le baron rouge en pole à Monaco. Michael Schumacher, Dominique Leroy

Schumi. Le baron rouge en pole à Monaco. Michael Schumacher

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 70 x 90 x 2 cm

$1,694

Photography, Ayrton Senna. Brésil. Sao Paulo 1992, Dominique Leroy

Ayrton Senna. Brésil. Sao Paulo 1992

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 70 x 90 x 2 cm

$1,694

Photography, Concentration du pilote Mika Hakkinen. MacLaren, Dominique Leroy

Concentration du pilote Mika Hakkinen. MacLaren

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 70 x 90 x 2 cm

$1,468

Photography, David Coulthard. MacLaren. Formule 1, Dominique Leroy

David Coulthard. MacLaren. Formule 1

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 70 x 90 x 2 cm

$1,129

Photography, Free spirit 1, Pierre Cherix

Free spirit 1

Pierre Cherix

Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm

$203

Print, Capricorn, Rosen Yordanov

Capricorn

Rosen Yordanov

Print - 45 x 60 cm

$186

Photography, Ayrton Senna concentrer. F1, Dominique Leroy

Ayrton Senna concentrer. F1

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 90 x 60 x 1 cm

$903

Photography, Ayrton Senna, Préparatif. Brésil F1, Dominique Leroy

Ayrton Senna, Préparatif. Brésil F1

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 60 x 90 cm

$903

Photography, La Gifle, Jean-Guy Nakars

La Gifle

Jean-Guy Nakars

Photography - 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm

$903

Photography, Etirements, Michel Verna

Etirements

Michel Verna

Photography - 30 x 45 cm

$440

Photography, OP Art Bathing Suit by Sinz, Vouliagmeni, Greece, F.C. Gundlach

OP Art Bathing Suit by Sinz, Vouliagmeni, Greece

F.C. Gundlach

Photography - 59.9 x 60.5 x 0.3 cm

$8,500

Photography, La Densité du regard. Ayrton Senna, Dominique Leroy

La Densité du regard. Ayrton Senna

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 90 x 60 x 2 cm

$1,581

Photography, Champagne pour Ayrton Senna. Brésil 92, Dominique Leroy

Champagne pour Ayrton Senna. Brésil 92

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 60 x 90 x 2 cm

$1,581

Photography, Réflexion avant course. Ayrton Senna, Dominique Leroy

Réflexion avant course. Ayrton Senna

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 90 x 60 x 2 cm

$1,581

Photography, Regard Ayrton Senna, Dominique Leroy

Regard Ayrton Senna

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 60 x 90 x 2 cm

$1,581

Photography, Préparatif Ayrton Senna, Dominique Leroy

Préparatif Ayrton Senna

Dominique Leroy

Photography - 90 x 60 x 2 cm

$1,694

Photography, La Montagne Imaginaire, Jérome Obiols

La Montagne Imaginaire

Jérome Obiols

Photography - 70 x 186 x 0.1 cm

$3,953

Photography, La Guerre des Mondes, Jérome Obiols

La Guerre des Mondes

Jérome Obiols

Photography - 80 x 114 x 0.1 cm

$3,444

Photography, Bon Voyage, Luke Simmonds

Bon Voyage

Luke Simmonds

Photography - 30 x 43 cm

$141

Photography, La Flaque 2, Olivier Rebecq

La Flaque 2

Olivier Rebecq

Photography - 30 x 45 x 1 cm

$497

Photography, Rust #4, Anthony Lanneretonne

Rust #4

Anthony Lanneretonne

Photography - 70 x 50 x 0.4 cm

$559

Photography, Paris 13ème "Olympiades Vibes N°2" (M), Papa Mesk

Paris 13ème "Olympiades Vibes N°2" (M)

Papa Mesk

Photography - 80 x 45 x 1 cm

$903

Photography, Paris 13 ème "Olympiades Vibes N°1", Papa Mesk

Paris 13 ème "Olympiades Vibes N°1"

Papa Mesk

Photography - 80 x 45 x 1 cm

$903

Photography, Paris 13 ème Olympiades Vibes N°3, Papa Mesk

Paris 13 ème Olympiades Vibes N°3

Papa Mesk

Photography - 80 x 45 x 1 cm

$903

Painting, Digital Hand Style, Papa Mesk

Digital Hand Style

Papa Mesk

Painting - 60 x 40 x 2 cm

$1,468

Photography, Free spirit, Pierre Cherix

Free spirit

Pierre Cherix

Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm

$203

Photography, Free spirit, Pierre Cherix

Free spirit

Pierre Cherix

Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm

$203

Photography, Free spirit, Pierre Cherix

Free spirit

Pierre Cherix

Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm

$203

Photography, Free spirit, Pierre Cherix

Free spirit

Pierre Cherix

Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm

$203

Photography, Free spirit, Pierre Cherix

Free spirit

Pierre Cherix

Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm

$213

Photography, Rust #3, Anthony Lanneretonne

Rust #3

Anthony Lanneretonne

Photography - 70 x 50 x 0.4 cm

$559

Photography, Stone Faces #2, Anthony Lanneretonne

Stone Faces #2

Anthony Lanneretonne

Photography - 70 x 50 x 0.4 cm

$514

Photography, Stone Faces #1, Anthony Lanneretonne

Stone Faces #1

Anthony Lanneretonne

Photography - 70 x 50 x 0.4 cm

$514

Photography, 24h du Mans 1970-Littéralement porté en triomphe, l’ingénieur Porsche Helmut Flegl, 14 juin 1970., Jacques Violet

24h du Mans 1970-Littéralement porté en triomphe, l’ingénieur Porsche Helmut Flegl, 14 juin 1970.

Jacques Violet

Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm

$395

Photography, 24h du Mans 1970-Jean-Pierre Beltoise ou H. Pescarolo au volant de leur MS 660 n°31, 13 juin 1970., Jacques Violet

24h du Mans 1970-Jean-Pierre Beltoise ou H. Pescarolo au volant de leur MS 660 n°31, 13 juin 1970.

Jacques Violet

Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm

$395

Photography, Ressac (1), Hervé Pezzini

Ressac (1)

Hervé Pezzini

Photography - 40 x 60 x 1 cm

$338

Photography, By bike on the platform, Hervé Pezzini

By bike on the platform

Hervé Pezzini

Photography - 40 x 60 x 1 cm

$338

Photography, Death of a Nikonos, Luke Simmonds

Death of a Nikonos

Luke Simmonds

Photography - 30 x 43 cm

$141

Photography, Plage de l'Île-Grande /, Didier Cormillot

Plage de l'Île-Grande /

Didier Cormillot

Photography - 60 x 80 cm

$260

Photography, De Myrha à Babylone - Duo Jeanne 1, Valérie Donzelli

De Myrha à Babylone - Duo Jeanne 1

Valérie Donzelli

Photography - 35 x 35 cm

$452

Photography, Adorned, Drew Doggett

Adorned

Drew Doggett

Photography - 68.6 x 45.7 x 0.3 cm

$2,146

Photography, River Titan, Drew Doggett

River Titan

Drew Doggett

Photography - 68.6 x 55.9 x 0.3 cm

$1,863

Photography, White 356, Cédric Marcadier

White 356

Cédric Marcadier

Photography - 90 x 90 x 4 cm

$2,372

Photography, 22 F2, Cédric Marcadier

22 F2

Cédric Marcadier

Photography - 90 x 90 x 4 cm

$2,372

Photography, Corsair 22, Studio Cui Cui

Corsair 22

Studio Cui Cui

Photography - 30 x 24 x 4 cm

$491

Painting, Memento Mori, Kaouteur Souibgui

Memento Mori

Kaouteur Souibgui

Painting - 54 x 44.5 x 1.5 cm

$514

Photography, Série des mètres, Arthur Di Nunzio

Série des mètres

Arthur Di Nunzio

Photography - 100 x 100 x 1 cm

$1,412

Photography, Soledad : Frida's Reflections II / Digital Collage, Ellie Sass (Sassayiannis)

Soledad : Frida's Reflections II / Digital Collage

Ellie Sass (Sassayiannis)

Photography - 50 x 70 x 0.1 cm

$791

Print, Amor (1), Max Ruiz

Amor (1)

Max Ruiz

Print - 138 x 82 x 2 cm

$3,275

Print, Katsushika Hokusai, Max Ruiz

Katsushika Hokusai

Max Ruiz

Print - 140 x 100 x 2 cm

$3,840

Print, Louis Lumière, Max Ruiz

Louis Lumière

Max Ruiz

Print - 140 x 100 x 2 cm

$4,291

Print, Aibo, Max Ruiz

Aibo

Max Ruiz

Print - 130 x 100 x 2 cm

$4,178

Print, Yerbal, Max Ruiz

Yerbal

Max Ruiz

Print - 131 x 108 x 2 cm

$4,517

Photography, Trio de duos, Pierre Gély-Fort

Trio de duos

Pierre Gély-Fort

Photography - 30 x 20 x 0.1 cm

$395

Photography, Il jouait du piano debout...dans l'ascenseur, Pierre Gély-Fort

Il jouait du piano debout...dans l'ascenseur

Pierre Gély-Fort

Photography - 20 x 30 x 0.1 cm

$395

Photography, La femme sans tronc, Pierre Gély-Fort

La femme sans tronc

Pierre Gély-Fort

Photography - 30 x 20 x 0.1 cm

$395

Photography, Welcome on board !, Pierre Gély-Fort

Welcome on board !

Pierre Gély-Fort

Photography - 20 x 30 x 0.1 cm

$395

Fine Art Drawings, Esprit de la nature, Valérie Abadie

Esprit de la nature

Valérie Abadie

Fine Art Drawings - 18 x 26 x 0.1 cm

$282

Fine Art Drawings, Calle Betis, Valérie Abadie

Calle Betis

Valérie Abadie

Fine Art Drawings - 18 x 26 x 1 cm

$440

Photography, Portrait #10, D-A Woisard

Portrait #10

D-A Woisard

Photography - 50 x 40 cm

$903

Photography, Portrait #6, D-A Woisard

Portrait #6

D-A Woisard

Photography - 50 x 40 cm

$903

Photography, Portrait #4, D-A Woisard

Portrait #4

D-A Woisard

Photography - 50 x 40 cm

$903

Black and white

Before the arrival of photography – with the exception of some etchings and lithographs – all the images we consumed were in colour. Quite simply, because no one would ever have thought to do anything else – why paint in black and white when colour was so readily available?

Yet despite this, today many photographers still choose to work in black and white – such as Pauline Théon, Kadir Von Lohuizen or Joh Lowenstein – even though their photos are taken in colour by the camera itself. Is the black and white trend a fleeting effect of fashion, or a symbolic return to the roots of the photography movement? Black and white photography has something that colour photos, despite recent innovations and the extraordinary quality of images today, cannot quite access. The use of black and white lends significant force to the composition: the contrasts, the shadows and the figures all stand out more strongly. People simply feel differently when faced with a colour photo versus a black and white image.

Colour is a distraction of sorts, a disturbance: colour is a nuisance.

And yet, some photographers still prefer colour to black and white, whilst others merge touches of colour with otherwise monochrome compositions. But in the end, all agree that both styles impose a totally different way of looking at a photo: from researching the shot to post production work, when artists develop or retouch the image. The use of colour is therefore something of a process in its own right, relating to two different ways of viewing the world and showing it others. The question, then, is what is being told, and why is it being in the way that it is?

The symbolic value of putting black and white together is a good starting point for reflecting on the fascination that they generate even today. There could not be a more fascinating, more striking ambivalence than when black, the 'colour' of darkness and burnt coal, considered a non-colour, is placed alongside white – representing light, and the result of all the colours merged together.

The problem faced by photographers today is that black and white still carry strong connotations of the past, of an era before the popularisation of colour and its massive cultural recovery amongst the press and photo journalists. In fact, it is rare now that contemporary subjects are photographed in colour, but we still associate black and white images with a retro feel.  

So what does contemporary art have to say about it all? Discover Artsper's selection of black and white works: on the border of past and present, of the real and the imaginary… let us guide you!

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